Alexander Lee
Editor-in-chief
On November 22nd, Superintendent Bill Olsen declared that Westford Public Schools would make up the days lost due to the October snowstorm during the Wednesdays and Thursdays of February and April Vacation.
The news surprised many students. This had never before been done in previous years. Even during the ice storm of ’08, in which WA also missed four consecutive days, Olsen had opted to add the snow days in June.
However, much to the dismay of the students, Olsen made a swift decision this time around. Many students complained that perhaps the ruling was too “rash”, and some felt like it was “completely arbitrary”.
“I think that he should have waited at least until December” said one student.
However, according to Olsen, the school committee, and Principal Antonelli, there was an elaborate process on the decision.
A week after the snow days, Olsen released a survey online for parents to vote on how they would like to handle the situation. Of the choices, “add days at the end of the year, received the most votes at 33% while the Feburary/April break solution got 18%. However, most of the votes for the “no change” option came from a small number of IP addresses, calling their validity into question, so this solution was completely scrapped.
When Olsen presented the options to school committee he recommended the February/April break solution or the four Saturday solution. Though he also proposed removing one entire vacation, he said that it “often results in poor attendance on make up days”.
Swayed by his reasoning, the committee passed his plan.
“I think the majority of the committee was convinced by the superintendent’s emphasis on the fact that he believed the days chosen as make-up days represented the best educational option to us” said School Committee Chair Angela Harkness.
Furthermore, Olsen had also consulted with a leadership team that included all the school principles and curriculum coordinators. They too agreed to Olsen’s plan. Many felt as though it was harder for students of all grades to learn late in the school year.
Principal of WA James Antonelli said, “given the precedent of missing days, it was the right decision because it gets tough as the school year stretches into June”.
Through this deliberation, Olsen came to his decision.
